Victim's ex-boyfriend 'an animal'

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A 22-year-old woman was killed by her "animal" ex-boyfriend after more than three years of abuse, an inquest heard.

Barry Stone, 31, stabbed Nicola Sutton in 2006 then hanged himself while on remand, the inquest heard.

Her mother Lynn Sutton said he seemed "pleasant" when she met first him, but was in fact "grooming" her daughter.

Miss Sutton had also been warned about Mr Stone's violence by his ex-wife, the inquest jury at Warrington Town Hall was told. The hearing continues.

Mrs Sutton, 52, a nurse, said she could tell her daughter was being beaten and that she lost weight and became withdrawn and secretive.

He would flip unexpectedly for no apparent reason Lynn Sutton, victim's mother

She told the jury that Stone, a drug-dealer, was known by the police, and they were aware of his violent nature.

"They knew him, that he needed to be off the streets and that he was an animal," said Mrs Sutton.

The jury was told that Mr Stone regularly beat Miss Sutton and caused injuries including broken ribs and black eyes.

Mrs Sutton said: "He would flip unexpectedly for no apparent reason.

"She knew if she spoke to any of his friends he would flip and she knew when it was about to happen."

Barry Stone stabbed Nicola Sutton at a friend's house, the inquest heard

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg described Mr Stone as a "Jekyll and Hyde character".

As well as beating his ex-girlfriend, he intimidated her so she did not report him to police, the inquest heard.

Mrs Sutton said their windows were smashed and graffiti appeared around the town branding her daughter a "grass".

Hannah Dutton, a friend of Miss Sutton, told the inquest the pair had gone to Ibiza to escape the abuse - but Mr Stone followed them.

She explained he "thumped" Miss Sutton, threatened to throw them off their balcony, and kept her locked up in a hostel.

Mr Stone's ex-wife, Sarah Marshall, also gave evidence at the inquest on Monday, telling the hearing she suffered abuse at his hands.

She told the jury he used drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and steroids and also dealt class A narcotics.

The inquest continues on Tuesday.